For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of peanut butter. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a staple of my homemade school lunches, and a spoonful of regular peanut butter (before “natural” was as popular as it is now) made my day. As I grew older, things got a little more sophisticated. As in I’d add chocolate chips to my spoon of PB.

Fast forward to today, and we’re cooking and baking up a peanut butter storm! I’ve made breakfast cookies where nut butter is baked in – yum – and even made a savory Asian peanut sauce. It truly is versatile food item, especially when it comes to ENERGY BITES.

Snack Prep for the Win

Preparing dozens of containers of lunches and dinners for the week is not my forte. I tried it a couple of times, and have just not wanted to make it a priority right now. But snack prepping? I’m all over it! Preparing snacks for the week takes much less time – because there aren’t multiple side dishes involved – and I think it’s more fun. I mean, don’t you want to stop what you’re doing and roll out some energy bites right now?

You only need one kitchen appliance to make these Peanut Butter Medjool Date Energy Bites, and the rest is up to those trusty hands! After the food processor quickly combines your ingredients, it’s a simple roll-and-refrigerate. And maybe taste test, juuuust to make sure it’s delicious. I enjoyed a couple of these for breakfast – when I hit “snooze” too many times and had to rush out the door. Ray packed a few of these along with his lunch for an afternoon snack, and we both noshed on them to tide us over for dinner.

Easy, Portable, Post-Workout Fuel

Perhaps my favorite time to eat these Peanut Butter Medjool Date Energy Bites is after a workout. Besides the complex carbohydrates that are great for replenishing glycogen stores in our bodies, did you know that Natural Delights Medjool dates have a high level of potassium (about 50% more than bananas by weight)? Awesome for the ultimate recovery after a sweat sesh.

After a workout, I don’t prioritize the time it takes to make a smoothie or shake. Since I don’t 100% enjoy protein powder shakes – where you just mix milk/water and protein powder – these energy bites are my go-to. In the ten, 15 minutes I have before my next personal training client, I can snack on a couple of these and feel ready to go (AKA not hangry)!

Flavor and Texture is Key

Since I can’t pass you one of these Peanut Butter Medjool Date Energy Bites through your computer or phone screen, can we just talk about all the specs for a moment? This might be one of my favorite snack recipes at Hello to Fit because of the flavor and texture. The combination of oat and coconut flour make for a soft, chewy, cookie-dough-like consistency. But crunch lovers, have no fear! Fibrous chia seeds add a tiny crunch, and the unsweetened shredded coconut adds even more texture to every bite.

Peanut butter and dates make this dish creamy with a hint of sweetness (it’s the only form of added sugar in the recipe!) to the dish; they also bind the ingredients together into one phenomenal energy bite. When I took my first bite, it was like eating peanut butter cookie dough. But way healthier. And then took a second bite – the final one – and it all came together: the peanut butter, dates, coconut, and hint of cinnamon.

If snack prepping is more of your “thing” than preparing full meals, these Peanut Butter Medjool Date Energy Bites are just for you. Natural Delights Medjool dates are the natural sweetener in this dish – there are no refined sugars – and add an UMPH of potassium to fuel your body after a workout. The combination of oat and coconut flour make it feel like you’re eating cookie dough, and it’s the most portable snack there is, whether you’re at the gym, in the office, or at home.

Instructions

Add dates, peanut butter, and chia seeds to food processor and pulse until mixture comes together - the mixture will start to pull away from the sides of the food processor.

Place unsweetened shredded coconut onto a plate.

Using your hands, roll energy bite mixture in small balls, approximately 1-inch in diameter. Roll balls in shredded coconut, pressing gently to stick. You may need to roll again, to reform into spherical shapes.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

by Jess

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Let’s chat!

Do you snack prep, meal prep, or both (or none)?

How do you typically fuel up after a workout?

Are you a peanut butter fan, or prefer a different nut butter?

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I am also working with Bard Valley and I can’t wait to try these yum!Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Runfessions January Edition

Jess

February 14, 2017 at 12:03 pm

Woohoo congrats, Deborah!! <3

KJ | Om Nom Herbivore

January 29, 2017 at 12:24 am

These sound really good!! Texture is usually something energy balls lack so I like that you added some! Im going to make some and freeze them so I can take them up snowboarding 🙂KJ | Om Nom Herbivore recently posted…Tofu Breakfast Scramble with Steamed Kale